//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 - Friends and family // Story: Stranger in the Forest // by TrixterCat //------------------------------// “Aww come on Twilight, cheer up.” Pinkie Pie said as she placed a cup of hot cocoa infront of Twilight. Twilight sighed as she pulled the cup closer. “I’m sorry Pinkie, I was just so looking forward to seeing the creature again today…and then this had to happen…” She grumbled as she watched the rain hit the window next to her. She was sitting in Sugarcube Corner, waiting for hours to go by. She was unable to stay in her library any longer, else she might go crazy. Usually she would have loved to listen to the rain in her tree home and read a book, but not today. “It’s okay Twilight. I mean, who would have thought that just when you were about to go to the place where you met the creature, a huge storm would blow from the Everfree right in to Ponyville.” Pinkie said over her shoulder as she went to serve the other ponies. With the unscheduled storm outside, many ponies had come to Sugarcube Corner, seeking shelter from the water and the wind, after making sure that everything important was either covered or stashed away safely. “Hmph.” Was Twilight's response as she took a sip from her drink of hot cocoa with whipped cream and marshmallows. With the storm raging outside, there was no reason to go out in to the fields to look for the creature. It was most likely staying in whatever place it called home, and wouldn’t come out until well after the storm. And with her brain too preoccupied by the creature, she couldn’t focus on doing anything else today either, which vexed her greatly. All she could do, was to let the hours tick by, and wait for tomorrow. ******************** “Come on Thunderlane! Put your back in to it!” Rainbow yelled over the sound of rushing wind and water. “Yes ugh…Yes ma’am!” He yelled back as he wrestled with the rain clouds. The Ponyville weather team had been in the sky from the moment the storm had reared its ugly head, trying in vain to halt it. This was a storm from the Everfree, and they all knew that their chances of actually stopping it were slim at best. What they could do, instead, was to make sure that it wouldn’t turn in to a thunder storm. With the last few hot days they had had, it was a real danger, and combined with how wild an Everfree storm could get, something like that would definitely wreak havoc in Ponyville. But not if Rainbow Dash had any say in the matter. “Come on everypony, just a bit more and I think we are set!” Rainbow yelled again, and a chorus of cheers rang from the weather ponies. The storm had lost some of its edge by now, and with ponies busting up any charges before they could form in to lightning bolts, the danger eventually subsided. With the storm prevented from escalating from merely annoying to possibly dangerous, the weather ponies pulled back and congratulated themselves for a job well done. Some wanted to get to their homes to get out of the rain and warm up, while others decided to head for Sugarcube Corner for hot cocoa, or Tipsy’s Tavern for some well-earned cider instead. Usually, Rainbow would have been all over the idea to have a few mugs of cider with her pals, but being completely soaked, cold and tired made her want to curl up somewhere warm and just go to sleep instead. “Sorry guys, but I think I’m gonna pass it for today.” She said as they made their way back towards Ponyville proper. “Kicking so much flank has tired me out.” She would have yawned, but the rain would have filled her mouth with water. “Yeah, can’t keep our boss from her nap time, she might stay awake more than half a day otherwise.” Thunderlane joked good-heartedly. The ponies gave a light laugh, many of them aware of Rainbow’s tendency to nap often. “Hmph, you are lucky you are cute.” Rainbow said with a devilish smirk as she zoomed past him and gave his behind a small smack with her tail. Thunderlane blushed and coughed awkwardly, while the weather ponies’ laughter grew. As they came in to Ponyville, Rainbow waved goodbye and veered off from the rest of them. At first, she headed for her home, but soon changed her course more west, towards Sweet Apple Acres instead. It was closer than her home, and with the rain preventing Applejack from working, maybe she could spend some time with her and she’d allow Rainbow to wait the rain out in their guest room. Maybe she would even arrive in time for a free lunch, too. As she flew towards Applejack’s home, Rainbow noticed something moving near towards the Everfree. She had almost missed it, with the rain reducing visibility, but the bright colors made it stand out. Something yellow with a blue thing was moving vaguely towards Ponyville/Sweet Apple Acres. Almost like a huge mushroom had decided to start moving around. “What the…?” She muttered before altering her course again to see what it was. As she came closer, she saw that the blue thing was actually an umbrella. Who the hay is out in this weather? She thought, but it soon became clear to her as she realized how big the creature was. “No way…” With a burst of speed, she lowered closer to the ground, and flew next to the creature. “You? What are you doing out here in this weather?” She exclaimed as she hovered next to it. There stood the creature, with a pleasant smile on its face, as if it didn’t have any cares in the world. It was wearing a yellow raincoat and a hat, it had long rainboots on its feet and the blue umbrella on its hand. It waved at her, not reacting to Rainbow’s words. Rainbow reflexively waved back, before she caught herself and frowned at the creature instead. “No! Don’t just greet my like nothing’s wrong!” She said with a slightly frustrated voice and slapped (very gently) the creature’s hand down. “Why are you out here in a storm? Shouldn’t you be at…wherever it is that you stay at, taking shelter from the rain?” She asked. The creature blinked a couple of times, before bringing its free hand to its chin, as if to contemplate what she had said. Oh of course, it can’t understand a word I’m saying, Rainbow though. And now it’s giving me a look like I’m the weird one here. The creature rubbed its chin for a while, before giving her a small, kind smile and bringing the umbrella over her, protecting her from the rain. “Thanks for the effort, but it’s a little bit too late for that.” She quipped with a deadpan look. The creature’s smile seemed to widen slightly. It pointed at Rainbow with its hand, before waving around and raising one eyebrow. “What…?” Rainbow looked at the creature, who seemed to expect her to say something. What was with the waving? Was it trying to ask her something? “Wait wait, hold on a second.” She lifted one hoof to stop the creature from saying anything as she tried to wrack her brain. It pointed at me, then the scenery, and one eyebrow rose, as if it had asked a question. Hmm…me, scenery, question... The creature waved its hand again, and then pointed down where it stood. Me, scenery, question, here…uhhh…me...question…here…me, here, que- “Are you asking why I’m here?” Rainbow blurted out as it hit her what the creature had asked. Its smile widened even more. “Why am I here?!? I’m the one who’s asking-…!” Rainbow stopped, threw her hooves in the air and groaned in frustration. When she looked back at the creature, it atleast had the decency to look slightly embarrassed. She gave the creature the most unamused look she could muster. “You are like a lost puppy, you know...” She said. The creature tilted its head slightly, still smiling with its pleasant smile. “…and I’m not good with those. It’s more of Fluttershy’s job.” They looked at each other for a while, the rain continuing to fall around them. Rainbow snorted and rolled her eyes. “Horseapples…I was going to go see my friend Applejack. Do you want to come with me?” She said and nodded towards the approximate direction of Sweet Apple Acres. The creature perked up, and held its free hand towards the direction Rainbow had nodded. The message was rather clear. Lead the way. Rainbow gave another snort, and started to slowly fly towards Sweet Apple Acres. The creature took a few hurried steps after her, holding the umbrella for her. Rainbow noticed that the umbrella did not entirely cover the creature, but it didn’t seem to mind it at all. “…You are a dork...” She said, as the duo made their way in the rain. ******************** Applejack was setting the plates on the table, when there was a sudden knock on their front door. “Who in tarnation is out and about in this weather?” She said to herself, and left Big Mac to setting the rest of the table as she made her way to the door. On her way, she looked out of the window. It was still raining heavily, and it probably wouldn’t let up for another couple of hours. Applejack opened the door, and saw Rainbow Dash trying to shake any possible water out of her. She was about to ask what the soaking wet pegasus was doing here in this kind of weather, when she noticed the much larger thing behind her. Her eyes climbed up the yellow thing. She took a step back and fell on her rump when she finally reached the pair of friendly looking eyes staring back at her. “Wha…” She muttered. “Hey AJ, sorry for coming to visit so suddenly. Can we come in?” Rainbow asked as she tried desperately to shake the water out of her wings. “Wha…What’s that?” she asked and pointed at the creature. “Oh, it’s the Everfree creature. You know, the one we talked about yesterday?” “This is…? Why’s it here?” Applejack asked after she finally got up again. “I dunno. I found it walking in the rain, and since I was going to visit you anyway, I decided to bring it along.” “Bring it along? Here?” “Well I couldn’t just leave it standing in the rain. Can we come in or not?” “Oh, my bad.” Applejack said and moved out of the way. The creature hesitated outside the door. “Don’t just stand there, come on it.” Rainbow said and motioned with her wing. The creature gingerly stepped in, having to crouch slightly. It took off its raincoat, hat, and boots, and left them outside on the porch where they would still be covered from the rain. Applejack noticed a blue umbrella as well. “Can I have some towels?” Rainbow asked, dripping water everywhere. “Uh, yeah, sure.” Applejack said and left to get some towels. “Applejack? Who was at the door?” Applebloom’s voice came from the kitchen as she walked past it. “It was…uh, Rainbow…and her friend…” Applejack responded in daze. “Her friend? Who is it?” “It’s uhh…j-just add a few more plates on the table, would you sugarcube?” She said and continued on her way before Applebloom could ask anything more. After getting the towels, she returned to Rainbow and the creature, who were still standing in the same place. The creature was looking around, clearly curious about everything it saw, and seemed to be restraining itself to not touch anything. “Thanks AJ. Whoo, that storm sure is something.” Rainbow chatted as she begun to dry herself. “Yeah…so why were you in the rain in the first place?” Applejack asked, keeping her eyes on the creature, who was fidgeting where it stood. “Well, me and the weather team had been up there to make sure that the storm didn’t get any worse. It’s fine now, there is no chance for it to turn in to a thunder storm anymore. I wanted to head home after we finished, but I decided to come here instead, because it's closer. Saw the big guy on the way, and here we are." Rainbow finished and bumped the creature a bit. “Uhhuh.” “And I think I smell something delicious.” Rainbow added, taking a sniff of the air, before turning towards Applejack. Her disheveled mane, matted fur, and wings in a desperate need of preening made her a pitiful sight. The puppydog eyes weren’t helping either. Applejack rolled her eyes. “Rainbow, you know you are always welcome here. There’s no need for that.” “Thanks AJ, you’re the best!” “What about this fellow here?” Applejack asked and looked at the creature, who shyly smiled back. “I don’t know if it is hungry or not.” Rainbow said and poked the creature to get its attention. She made a show of sniffing the air and rubbing her belly. The creature brought its hands up, shaking its head, unsure. “It seems to be a bit on the shy side.” Applejack commented. “You are telling me.” Rainbow said and tried to use her wing to push the creature’s leg forward. It took a few awkward steps before stopping again. “If the critter wants to join us on the table, I ain’t got anything against it, I guess. I reckon it can decide if it wants to come on its own.” Applejack said and went back to the dining room. Rainbow looked at the creature, before shrugging and following Applejack. “Hey there Rainbow.” Applebloom greeted her as she stepped in. “Heyja Applebloom. Have you and the Crusaders remembered to not get in to trouble?” “Ofcourse. Are you gonna join us for lunch?” “Yup.” “Is your friend gonna join us too?” “If it ever gets its lazy rump here, sure.” “It?” Applebloom blinked, and nearly shrieked when the creature peeked in. “W-w-w-what’s that?” “It’s okay Applebloom, it’s not going to hurt you. Me, Twilight and Fluttershy found this creature yesterday. Apparently, it’s some kind of super-secret creature from the Everfree forest, because Twilight couldn’t find anything about it in any of her books.” “Really?” Applebloom asked, unsure if Rainbow was trying to prank her or not. “Yeah. I found it walking in the rain as I was coming here. I couldn’t just leave it there, so I brought it here with me.” Big Mac was eyeing the creature with his trade mark neutral look, who was standing half hidden behind the doorframe. Rainbow rolled her eyes, walked behind the creature, and started pushing it in to the room with her head. The creature took a step in to the room, awkwardly rubbing its neck and waving its other hand. Applebloom studied the creature for a while. “It’s from the Everfree? I thought only monsters lived in the Everfree. Besides Zecora.” “Well, this creature is as far away from a monster as you can get. When we first met it, it fainted after seeing us.” “What? No way.” “Yeah it did. We had to let Fluttershy deal with it alone because it was so afraid of us.” Rainbow sat down on the opposite side of the table from Big Mac and motioned the creature to sit at the end of the table next to her. The creature hesitantly sat down, slightly closer to Rainbow than Big Mac. Applebloom looked at the creature fidget nervously. “Well, if it is scared of us, then we need to show it that we are not going to hurt it.” She said and walked next to the creature, who was looking at her. She lifted her hoof in greetings. “Hi there, I’m Applebloom.” She said. The creature grabbed her hoof and shook it, even managing a small smile. “Oh, I don’t think it understands our language.” Rainbow said. The creature looked over to Big Mac, who nodded, and it nodded back. “Oh. Well that’s a bummer.” Applebloom said. “So, is it like one of Fluttershy’s animal friends or something?” “Something like that.” Rainbow shrugged, not really knowing what else to say. “Now who is this here young’un?” Came Granny Smith’s voice from the kitchen doorway. Rainbow explained for the third time what the creature was, while Granny Smith kept looking at it with a critical eye. “Well, I don’t see no reason to turn down a guest. If this critter of yours can behave, it can stay.” She declared. After that, Applejack and Big Mac started to carry all the food to the table. They brought in a cooking cauldron full of vegetable soup, bread, strawberry jam, apple juice and an apple pie for dessert. The items got passed around until everypony had enough on their plates. Even the creature, after some hesitation, and coaxing from Applebloom, took some food. As the ponies started to eat, the creature stared as the ponies held spoons in their hooves with no effort what so ever. It blinked a few times, shook its head, and begun to eat too. As with all of Granny Smith’s cooking, the food was absolutely delicious. When the ponies started to chat with themselves, Rainbow asking how was the farm doing, and Applebloom asking if Rainbow had done any tricks lately, the creature was mostly content on sitting there, listening, it’s food forgotten. It had a wistful smile on its face, something that didn’t go past Granny Smith. After everypony had eaten their own share of food, and started to collect the dirty dishes, the creature got up and motioned for them. It clearly wanted to help. “If it wants to help, let it.” Was Granny’s response. They allowed the creature to gather all the dishes and carry them to the kitchen, where it started to wash them in the sink. Rainbow and Applejack looked at each other. “Hey, if it wants to do it, I’m not going to stop it.” Rainbow said and made her way to the living room, with Applejack in tow. ******************** The rest of the day was spent mostly in silence. Rainbow had asked if she could stay in the guest room until the rain stopped, and had almost immediately fallen asleep as she got on to the bed. A slight snoring sound could be heard if one listened closely enough. Applejack was content on sitting on the couch and reading a book, a rare pleasure she only allowed herself to do when there wasn’t any work for her. Big Mac had also gone to his room to rest, for there would be much work to do, if not today, then tomorrow. Granny Smith was sitting in a rocking chair, sewing. Applebloom was laying on the floor, doing her homework, and the creature was watching her do said homework. It seemed to have equal amount of trouble understanding it as Applebloom. After a while, Granny Smith got up from her chair, and made her way out of the room. She returned shortly after, carrying with her a heavy book. She got on to the couch next to Applejack, and with clopping her hooves together to get the creature's attention, patted the spot on her other side. The creature, slightly unsure, got up and carefully sat down next to her, afraid that its weight would break the couch. Granny Smith opened the book, which was their family album. Applejack placed a bookmark on the page she had been reading, and closed her book. Even Applebloom had stopped her homework and had made her way on the couch. With the creature taking so much space, she had to sit on its lap to be able to see the book. The creature didn’t seem to mind this in the least. Granny Smith started to show them photographs, everything from her younger days to today, telling stories on why each picture was taken and when. The sisters listened to her every word, finding the tales she told captivating, even if they had heard some of them before. The creature on the other hoof, was closely examining each picture. It had taken out small reading glasses from the pocket of its shirt. Even if it could not understand the words she was telling, it still enjoyed watching the photographs. ******************** As Granny Smith closed the book, all the ponies and the creature blinked owlishly when they looked outside the window at the rays of sunlight, peeking through the clouds. The rain had stopped. None of them had noticed, each too absorbed in the old album in their own way. Applejack got up and went to wake up Rainbow. Rainbow yawned and stretched her limbs as she entered the living room again with Applejack. “Oh Lunas stars finally.” Her exclaimed as her bones made satisfying popping sounds. “I thought the rain would never let up.” “And if it hadn’t, you could have continued to sleep all day.” Applejack responded with a smile. Rainbow frowned at her. The creature had gone outside to smell the clear air after a rain with Granny Smith and Applebloom following after it. “Woah. Are these your clothes?” Applebloom asked as she studied the raincoat. “It’s so big I could probably use it as a tent!” Rainbow stepped outside and immediately zoomed in to the sky, stretching her wings. She landed shortly after, when she realized the shape her feathers were in, and started preening. The creature gave a quiet chortle, before starting to put its boots and raincoat back on. “Aww. Are you leaving?” Applebloom asked. The creature must have picked up on her disappointed tone, as it gave her a smile and patted her head. “Now now Applebloom, I’m sure this creature here has lots to do. And so have we, now that the rain’s gone.” Granny Smith said. After the creature had its clothes back on, it stepped out of the porch and looked around. Since the rain was not obstructing its view, it could look around the Sweet Apple Acres for the first time. It was smiling as it looked at all the fields, the rows upon rows of apple trees and the barns. “You are always welcome here, young’un.” Granny Smith said to it as its gaze locked to them again. Perhaps it had understood what she wanted to say, as its smile widened and it bowed its head. Rainbow, finished doing a quick preening, floated next to the creature. “You going to take it back to Everfree?” Applejack asked from the doorway. “I don’t know if that’s where it is headed. If it goes to Ponyville, I guess I could take it to see Fluttershy and Twilight. I bet they are dying to see it again.” “Well, y’all take care then.” She said as she and her family each waved a hoof. “Thanks for the amazing food. And the bed.” Rainbow said and waved back together with the creature. They turned around and started to make their way out of Sweet Apple Acres. The Apple family watched them go, and when they were gone, started to do their normal chores again. Each felt their spirits a bit more lifted than during the rain.